trainmaster 2015 09 september issue

September 2015 Pacific Northwest Chapter National Railway Historical Society The Trainmaster

The Trainmaster September 2015

The Official Publication of the

Pacific Northwest Chapter of the

National Railway Historical Society

Portland, Oregon

www.pnwc-nrhs.org

OREGON RAILROAD AND NAVIGATION

COMPANY NO. 197 LOOKING GOOD

oISSUE N 638

Skagit Crew Speeder No. 30 before the move (Martin E. Hansen Collection)

By T. Trent Stetz

During the public preview of the new Tilikum Crossing Bridge on August 8th and 9th, the 1905 Baldwin 4-

6-2 Pacific Type, Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company No. 197 was put on display in front of the Oregon

Rail Heritage Center. The new bridge will carry the new MAX Orange Line and complete the Portland Streetcar

loop across the Willamette River. More than 40,000 people walked, biked or rolled over Tilikum Crossing

during its public preview, a sort of “soft opening” for the country’s first car-free pedestrian and transit bridge.

The OR&N No. 197 Posing in front of the Oregon Rail Heritage Center (Photo by T. Trent Stetz)


OR&N NO. 197 LOOKING GOOD

The restoration work continues on the OR&N No. 197. Recently the cab lettering was applied, as shown in the photo. As do most steam locomotives, key specifications for the locomotive are given on the cab. The 77 refers to the wheel diameter of the driving wheels. The refers to the 22 inch cylinder diameter and the 28 inch cylinder stroke. The 143 refers to the weight on the drives in thousands of pounds. The P refers to the class designation.

In a 1923 rebuilding at Union Pacific's Albina Shops in Portland, the engine received new cylinders, converting her to simple (single expansion) two cylinder operation. The valve gear was also converted from Stephenson to Walschaert, which was becoming common on modern locomotives.

The OR&N 197 was retired by the Union Pacific Railroad as No. 3203. It was spared scraping and was donated to the City of Portland in 1958. On February 10, 1996, it was finally removed from Oaks Park. It was then moved to the Brooklyn Roundhouse, where it once again joined SP 4449 and SP&S 700 to begin restoration.

22 28

Lettering was recently applied to the OR&N 197’s cab

This is a summary of the progress to date in applying new call number labels to the books in the PNWC library. As you know, we outgrew our old shelf number system, which served us well for many years. It gave us 27 categories or shelf addresses for our books. As our library grew to over 1,300 volumes, some of the shelves got a little crowded. One “address” had over 300 “residents,” books with the same call number of 18.

To fix this we adopted a classification system created by George Drury of Kalmbach Publishing for its railroad library. With some revisions, Drury’s system has done a better job of organizing our book collection. It brings together books of the same subject and provides many more subject classes and subclasses. It also gives a unique call number or address to each item, making them much easier to find.

Anyone who can locate a book with a Dewey Decimal number can locate books with our new system. We started this project in January 2014, and we are still struggling to complete it. So far we've applied new labels to 1,460 books. Of that total, 42 volumes are in Room 1A in the Reference Library (aka Archives). Most of those were

duplicates of books in the Lending Library that we deemed worthy of keeping.We have 80 (more or less) Lending Library books to reclassify into the new system.

These are located in the last alcove in Room 1 and form part of the old Eastern Railroads (shelf 25) and Midwestern Railroads (shelf 26) classes. Hope to get these done by the end of September.

Hats off to Bruce Strange, who's done a great job putting new Mylar dust jacket covers on many of the books. Some new books lacked dust jacket covers, while some of the older books had old vinyl covers which were chemically unstable and prone to dissolve into a gooey mess.

Hugh Delany has been a great help figuring out the subjects and descriptions of the books so that we could assign the proper class and subclass letters to them. I've really relied on his mature judgement. Thanks a million, Hugh!

Update from the PNWC LibraryBy Bob Weaver


I know what you are thinking – where is the locomotive? What motive power is Martin talking about? What railroad is this?

Well the answer is simple. This is a very rare photo of one of the most famous railroads in the Western U.S. What we see in this old photo is the Summit at Hogg Rock of the Oregon Pacific Railroad.

Col. Hogg originally built his line between Corvallis, Oregon and Yaquina, Oregon on the coast. His real goal however, was to reach Idaho. With that in mind he gained financing and started building in the 1880's up the Santiam River Canyon. In order to stake out his claim to his crossing of the Santiam Pass, Hogg had his construction crews blast out over 2 miles of the grade on the top of the pass and had several hundred feet of track hauled in and spiked down on the very top of the grade. Once this was done, a construction car was hauled in and the crews were told to haul it periodically back and forth on the grade to preserve the railroad's claim to the right of way. It is that very process you see here in this fine old photo. The construction crew is all joining in to pull the railroad car on the grade to preserve Col. Hogg's claim.

Unfortunately, Hogg's financing ran out and his Oregon Pacific line only reached Idanha, Oregon in the Santiam River Canyon. He was never able to connect to his short section on the Pass and proceed on to Idaho. Such was the fate on one of the West's most colorful railroad developers.

The 2.5 miles of grade is still very much there and quite visible. You can hike on it all the way down to Lost Lake. When you climb the Santiam Pass by car you can look up and see the grade and the palisades rock work still just as it was built.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Thomas Egenton Hogg:1828-1898, a master in the Confederate States Navy who participated in raids on the Union ships during the American

Civil War. He was captured and sentenced to death, but was eventually released from prison, after which he became a businessman and railroad promoter in the U.S. State of Oregon. He worked to build the Oregon Pacific Railroad, though his dream to create a transcontinental railroad with its western terminus on the Oregon Coast was never realized.

The Oregon Pacific Railroad was a railroad in western Oregon, United States, from 1880 to 1894, when it was sold to the Oregon Central and Eastern Railroad. A substantial part of the Oregon Pacific's abandoned right-of-way is preserved as Oregon Pacific Railroad Linear Historic District.

The Oregon Pacific Railroad Linear Historic District was added to the historic register on October 29, 1999, the roughly 20-mile linear section of the old railroad grade between Idanha and the Cascade Range summit. The historic district protects the remaining signs of the grade work east of Idanha, as well as the sites of two construction camps. Abandoned part way through construction, these remnants provide a unique window onto construction methods and living conditions in 19th century railroad camps.

This Trainmaster article started life as a July 8, 2015 Martin E. Hansen Trainorders.com posting with additional information extracted by Arlen Sheldrake from Wikipedia. Many thanks to Martin for his continued postings and willingness to share his amazing collection of historic photographs. He has no information on when or who took this photograph.

THE ONLY MOTIVE POWER USED ON THE PASSBy Martin E. Hansen


In the summer of 2015, the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society (OERHS) reached an agreement with an owner of 9 Brussels Trams, located in Port Mellon, British Columbia, Canada with the intent to move them to the museum. The museum is better suited to preserve, restore and operate them then they were are their

former location. In order to save this world class collection of trams, the museum

must repay the moving costs (Approximately $45,000), provide temporary weather protection (about $15,000) and eventually build a carbarn and restore these at least a few of the cars to service (well over $200,000). The cars were moved form late May thru mid-July to the museum.

Each of these cars tell a story about Brussels tram operation from the early 1930's through the early 2000's. They are worth preserving as a collection.

The museum is looking for help to raise funds. See oerhs.org/oerhs/Brussels.htm for more details.

The PNWC at Steam Up at Antique Powerland

Save the Brussels Tram CollectionPhotos by T. Trent Stetz

The Chapter once again had a concessions booth at Steam Up this year. Members also helped with the sound system during the event as well as with parade support.

Photos by T. Trent Stetz

This tram has quite a history. The car started as No. 1608 in 1937 Brussels. In 1965 it was rebuilt. Then in 1984 it became No. 1048, re-painted and sold to Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Florida. After that operation ended, it went to British Columbia Canada, and now to Oregon

No. 19 (Left) "works" car is double ended. It is a converted passenger tram that became a sweeper car. It is brushes located under the car to sweep dirt and light snow off the trolley right-of-way. The car was originally built in 1934 as car No. 1052. It was converted by STIB into a work car No. 38 in 1970, then converted again in 1981 to No. 19. No. 34 (Right) was built by Le Tramways Bruxellois in 1934 as car No. 1290. It was converted to work service in 1971 and renumbered as car No. 34.

Car No. 1247 last ran in 1972. It is the only Brussels car in the OERHS collection to have retained its as built car number.It was built in 1937 by Le Tramways Bruxellois

Keith Fleschner readies the cards describing each parade entrant

Kent Hutchens, Merrill Hugo and Dave Larsen selling Items from the PNWC Concessions Booth

Jim Hokinson staffs the information table at the Randy Rock Information Center. (Randy was a Chapter member and had provided sound system support at Steam Up. He passed away in 2013.)

The City of Eugene is looking at the cost to silence train horns at ten railroad crossings

between Van Buren Street and Hilyard Street in downtown Eugene. $7.4 million would be

needed to modify these 10 crossings on this 1.5 mile stretch of Union Pacific track. The price tag

for silencing train horns throughout Eugene is a hefty $24 million which includes Portland &

Western and Coos Bay Rail Link crossings. The potential redevelopment of the Eugene Water &

Electric Board property near the Willamette River and a proposed housing and commercial

development near Fifth Street Public Market are generating momentum to quiet the horns. Developers have said a quiet

zone is a crucial element. The Register-Guard 7/21/2015.

The Yakima Trolley operates Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and ends Sunday, September 27, 2015. Private

charters and facility rentals are available at any time of the year. For the time being they are operating on the quaint Pine

Street line while the Selah line undergoes restoration and maintenance. More information: www.yakimavalleytrolleys.org. th

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) announced July 16 that it has officially awarded the

contract to build the three stations in the West Oahu Station group to Nan, Inc. Nan, Inc. was

one of four companies to bid on the contract to build the Hoopili, East Kapolei, and UH-West

Oahu Stations. Nan, Inc. submitted the lowest bid at $56,088,470. Last month HART

awarded the contract for the construction of the three stations in the Farrington Highway

Station Group, which includes the West Loch, Waipahu Transit Center and Leeward Community College stations to

Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company with a bid of $78,999,000. HART News Release 7/16/2015.rd The Sound Transit Board of Directors on July 23 identified a preferred alternative for extending light rail to Kent/Des

Moines and, when funding is available, to Federal Way. The preferred alternative

includes three stations: one in Kent/Des Moines on the east side of SR 99, another in ndFederal Way at the Star Lake park-and-ride at Southern 272 Street, and a third at the

Federal Way Transit Center. The agency plans to publish a Final Environmental Impact Statement in the fall of 2016, with

the Board selecting the project to be built by the end of that year. Final design is scheduled to begin in 2017 and

construction in 2019, with service to Kent/Des Moines beginning in 2023. Sound Transit News Release 7/23/2015.

Oil train counts trend upward in Clark County. After a significant drop earlier this year,

the number of oil trains rolling through Clark County, Washington now are 11 to 15 trains

each week according to BNSF Railway; up from 8 to 12 per week in May. Columbian

7/22/2015.

The Port of Royal Slope, Washington has a RFP out for rail operator that will restore rail service on the Royal Slope

Railroad. The railroad consists of approximately 26 miles of the “Old Milwaukee” mainline running westerly from

Othello approximately 20 miles then goes north for 6 miles to the two industrial parks close to Royal City. RFP responses thare due by August 25 . The rail line has not been operated for about 20 years, but was rehabilitated in 2013 with a

$750,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation. A legislative bill transferring title of the

railroad to the Port was signed on May 18, 2015. Progressive Rail Railroading 7/23/2015 & the RFP.

The Government of British Columbia has affirmed its commitment to provide $7 million to the Island Corridor

Foundation to support the future of the E&N rail line on Vancouver Island. The provincial funds will be

provided to the Island Corridor Foundation once it has confirmed that $7.5 million in federal funding is in

place and, through a tendering process, that the upgrade work can be completed within the $20.4 million it

has budgeted. The regional districts of Nanaimo, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Alberni-Clayoquot, the

Capital Regional District, Southern Railway of Vancouver Island and the Island Corridor Foundation have

committed the remaining $5.9 million of this funding. Island Corridor Foundation email 7/24/2015.

In a neat partnership led by Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, expect soon to find Wayfinding Signs for

pedestrians and bicycle riders in the “OMSI neighborhood” area to help direct folk to the Portland

Spirit, Portland Opera, PCC Climb Center, OMSI and the OR Rail Heritage Center. The sign partners

are funding the project with city of Portland approval. Not the end of the direction signing needs but a

major step forward.

PNW SHORT LINESby Arlen L. Sheldrake


TriMet's MAX Light Rail, Connecting Our Region is the newly opened exhibit at the Oregon th

Rail Heritage Center. This exhibit celebrates the September 12 opening of the new Orange Line with

a look back at the historic roots and evolution of the Portland's region's light rail system. The exhibit th

opened August 14 . Our Trainmaster Editor, T. Trent Stetz chairs the ORHC Exhibits Committee and

PNWC Board Member Phil Barney built the neat “bridge looking” support for the heavy exhibit wall panels.

In the summer of 2015, the Oregon Electric Railway

Historical Society reached an agreement with the owner of

9 Brussels Trams, located in British Columbia, Canada

with the intent to move them to the museum in Brooks.

$45,000 in moving costs and $15,000 in temporary weather protection funds are being solicited. More information:

oerhs.org

The Kamloops Heritage Railway in Kamloops, British Columbia returned the Spirit of Kamloops, KHR 2141, back ndinto service on August 22 . The 2141 was built in 1912 in Kingston Ontario by the Canadian Locomotive Company for

the Canadian Northern Railway. It is classified as a light consolidated with a 2-8-0 wheel configuration. It was given to

the city in 1961 and had been out of service for two years. www.kamrail.com & Kamloops This week 8/19/2015.

If you love history, prepare to be blown away. The Associated Press and British

Movietone are in the process of uploading one million minutes of historical film dating back

to 1895. You can search through this amazing collection of short films at AP Archive:

www.youtube.com/c/APArchive and www.youtube.com/c/BritishMovietone. HistoryLink

7/23/2015.th th

All aboard Whitefish, Montana. On August 15 and 16 Amtrak Train Days was celebrated near the

Whitefish Amtrak Depot with the public exploring the Amtrak Exhibit Train. Still no word on when

the train might visit the Pacific Northwest. amtraktraindays.com.

The summer 2015 OnTrak Amtrak Cascades on-board magazine includes an advertisement for visiting the Oregon

Rail Heritage Center, page 39, and on page 82, Parting Shot, an excellent SP&S 700

night time photo taken at ORHC during the Lerro Productions night photo shoot.

Copies of this magazine are available on-board Amtrak Cascades or at ORHC.th On July 28 the Port of Vancouver slashed its total budget by 18%, an unusual move triggered largely by the failure of

a new freight-hauling venture to live up to revenue expectations. The lion's share of the decrease came by way of taking

off the books $15.29 million in revenue anticipated to come from the port's “dedicated rail service” program. Under that

program, the port sought to lease rail cars to haul oil-drilling materials to North Dakota; those cars would then return to

Vancouver loaded with Midwestern crops for eventual

export overseas. The program hasn't panned out as hoped.

The port's supplemental budget pegs rail service revenue at

$3.28 million. That's down 82% from the $18.57 million the commissioners approved in November 2014 as part of the

overall budget. The Columbian 7/28/2015.th

Jim Redden's July 28 front page, top of the fold, Portland Tribune article “ALL ABOARD! Family works on

Railroad for Four Generations” was an excellent tribute to our friend Scott Hurd and his retirement after 36 years of

Amtrak service. Scott as many of you know has been our go to guy at Union Station for many years; whether it was a

ladder, ability to display our Observation Platform replica at Union Station, materials for the ORHC free table, the

thousands of details for the many successful years of National Train Days, and general friendship. Best wishes Scott for a

long and enjoyable retirement!

One of the many items saved from the Brooklyn Roundhouse demolition was the turntable. Rick Franklin loaned

ORHF two flat cars and he provided the cranes to load it out of the ground at Brooklyn. The turntable has been stored on

the AERC flat cars ever since and parked on an Oregon Pacific Railroad (OPR) siding in

Sellwood, just north of Milwaukie. In early July Dick Samuels, OPR owner, indicated ththat Metro was ready to construct the trail between SE Umatilla and SE 13 , the

property sale was concluded in 2010. This will add another segment of the Springwater thTrail. Thus, the two flat cars needed to move and early the week of July 27 the two flat

cars with the turntable on board arrived at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. Many


thanks to Dick for storing these flatcars and the turntable for 3+ years.

The Government of Canada, the B.C. government and TransLink are celebrating the

beginning stages of upgrades to Metro Vancouver's busiest SkyTrain stations to

improve accessibility, capacity, safety and security. Construction work began at

Metrotown, Commercial-Broadway and New Westminster stations this spring. The

$66.6 million Commercial-Broadway Station upgrade is expected to be complete by

spring 2017. The $57.8 million Metrotown SkyTrain Station and Exchange upgrade is

expected to be complete by December 2017. The $12.3 million New Westminster Station upgrade is expected to be

complete by summer 2016. TransLink new release 7/29/2015.

The Mayor of Edmonds, Washington has appointed an 11-member advisory task force to provide

advice and insight during the study of alternatives to the at-grade railroad crossings in downtown

Edmonds. The alternatives analysis study aims to determine the best feasible options to existing at-

grade railroad crossings at Dayton and Main streets, which are currently blocked by 35-40 trains

each day along the city's waterfront and could eventually be blocked by up to 100 trains a day by

2030. Mayor Dave Earling has appointed Port of Edmonds Commissioner Jim Orvis and Edmonds

City Councilmember Mike Nelson as co-chairs of the advisory task force. BNSF Railway will contribute $50,000 to help

with this study. My Edmonds News 6/23 &7/29/2015; Edmonds Beacon 8/13/2015.

Coos Bay Rail Link names locomotive after Port's Chief Commercial Officer. In a time-honored tradition of

railroading, Coos Bay Rail Link (CBR) is naming one of its eight locomotives to honor

Oregon International Port of Coos Bay Chief Commercial Officer Martin Callery. He

retired July 31 after 23 years of service with the port. “The Martin Callery” is Coos

Bay Rail Link No. 2439, a 2,500-h.p. GP30u locomotive that the railroad acquired in

December 2014. “Martin has been a huge champion of the railroad,” says Scott Parkinson, president of CBR and ARG

Transportation Services - - the railroad's holding company, based in Eugene, Oregon. “He was instrumental in securing

the public funds to acquire and renovate the line,” Parkinson notes. Callery also was in charge of the solicitation that

selected CBR as the operator. “Thereafter,” Parkinson adds, “he was a vocal proponent of CBR and a true partner with

us”. ASLRRA Views and News August 5, 2015 via Bob Melbo email. [American Short Line and Regional Railroad

Association]

The 95-page June 2015 Washington State Short Line Rail Inventory and Needs Assessment report (WA-RD 842.1)

is now available from the Washington State Department of Transportation: www.wsdot.wa.gov/freight/publication.htm.

Due to neglect over many years, bringing the lines up to modern standards could cost more than $600 million, the study

determined. Progressive Railroading 8/5/2015 & WSDOT.th On August 4 the commissioners from the ports of Tacoma and Seattle formally

launched the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the first of its kind in North America. The

Northwest Seaport Alliance unifies the two ports' marine cargo terminal investments,

operations, planning and marketing to strengthen the Puget Sound gateway and attract

more marine cargo to the region. While the ports remain separate organizations that

retain ownership of their respective assets, they formed a port development authority

(PDA) to manage the container, breakbulk, auto and some bulk terminals in Seattle and

Tacoma. The airport; cruise business; marina, such as Fisherman's Terminal; grain

terminals and industrial real estate, such as the Northwest Innovation Works and Puget Sound Energy facilities and

Terminal 91 uplands, will remain outside the alliance. The PDA will be governed jointly by the two ports through their

elected commissions. The Northwest Seaport Alliance news 8/4/2015.

Richard Thompson's latest Arcadia Publishing book Slabtown Streetcars began sales on August th10 . No area of Portland, Oregon, played a more important role in street railway history than

Northwest Portland and the neighborhood known as Slabtown. In 1872, the city's first streetcars

passed close to Slabtown as they headed for a terminus in the North End. Slabtown was also home to

the first streetcar manufacturing factory on the West Coast. In fact, until locally built streetcars began

to be replaced by trolleys from large national builders in the 1910s, more than half of all rolling stock

was manufactured in shops located at opposite ends of Northwest Twenty-third Avenue. All streetcars

operating on the west side of the Willamette River, including those used on the seven lines that served


Northwest Portland, were stored in Slabtown. When the end finally came in 1950, Slabtown residents were using two of

the last three city lines. Arcadia Publishing web site. Thanks Richard for adding yet another book about rail history in

Oregon!

CBR (crude by rail) shipments from North Dakota to West Coast destinations

peaked in January 2015 at 170,000 barrels per day, falling since then to an average

140,000 barrels per day in 2015, January through May according to RBM Energy

LLC. The vast majority of these shipments have moved to four refineries in

Washington State, providing a cheaper alternative to the Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude staple these refineries have run

for decades. Railway Age 8/10/2015.

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. Awarded $204,000 for crossing safety public awareness campaigns

including an award to Oregon OL to reach professional truck drivers by distributing safety

brochures and visor cards through the state's Department of Transportation; in addition, they will

air radio and television PSAs on Spanish language stations across the state. The Federal Highway

Administration, a national partner and advisor of Operation Lifesaver, provides the funding for this new grant program.

Operation Lifesaver news release 8/11/2015.th Washington leaders cut the proverbial ribbon on a major Port of Vancouver initiative on August 13 . The event marks

the completion of the West Vancouver Freight Access project. Also known as the trench, the project eliminates conflicts

between BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad mainlines and traffic entering the port, improving regional rail

efficiency and on-time performance. The full project cost $275 million – some $50 million under budget – and took 10

years to build. The project's original timeline called for its completion by 2017.

www.bizjournals.com 8/12/2015.

The Joseph Branch Railriders (JBR) business in northeast Oregon is enjoying a successful second

year of operation. In addition to the original journey, a 13-mile round trip from Joseph to Enterprise

and back, JBR is offering a new 26-mile round-trip from the confluence of the Minam and Wallowa

rivers to the town of Wallowa. They are running pretty full each day with 60-70 passengers. JBR

owns 18 of the unique four-wheel, two person pedal powered “railrider” vehicles. The

Joseph/Enterprise trip is a two-hour journey while the Minam/Wallowa trip leaves Minam at 9 a.m.,

arrives in Wallowa at noon, and returns to Minam around 3 p.m. JBR is open for business from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday stthrough Monday and will run through the summer, shutting down operations on October 1 . More information:

jbrailriders.com. [JBR operates on the Wallowa Union Railroad.] Wallowa County Chieftain 8/4/2015.

Due to fire restrictions put in place by the Oregon Department of Forestry in response to the high risk of fire, the Eagle

Cap Excursion Train has cancelled its Saturday train ride. With the hot weather and extremely dry conditions, the risk is

too high for Wallowa Union Railroad. Agents at Alegre Travel are calling the 130 booked passengers to either rebook on thother trips or offer refunds. As for now, the August 29 train ride and fish hatchery tour remains on the schedule. La

Grande Observer 8/12/2015.

The August 2015 Joseph Branch Rail-With-Trail Concept Plan is now

available for review at: www.eou.edu/rails-with-trails web site. The

108mb, 86-page report reviews the feasibility and suitability of a proposed

Elgin to Joseph Rail with Trail Concept Plan. The Concept Plan reviews

the feasibility and suitability of a 63-mile rail-with-trail located in the Wallowa Union Rail Road Authority's Joseph

Branch right of way in northeastern Oregon. La Grande Observer 8/12/2015.

Through a joint project between the Albany [Oregon] Regional Museum and the

Albany Public Library, approximately 7,000 photos from the Robert Potts

Collection were numbered, sorted, and scanned. This project is supported in part by

a grant from the State Historic Preservation Office, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The scanned images are

hosted online at Google photos. Most of the photos were scanned both front and back. The white images you see in the

collection are the backs of the photos and often include identifying information as well as their unique ID number.

Among multiple categories is Transportation with 708 images that include many rail related photos.

ibrary.cityofalbany.net/historic-photos-of-albany.

The Oregon Department of Transportation, in conjunction with UPRR and BNSF, would like to

increase train speeds to approximately 30 mph at both North Portland and Peninsula junctions.

l


http://library.cityofalbany.net/historic-photos-of-albany


Current speed in these areas is approximately 10 mph. Congestion at these two junctions currently costs the Oregon

economy $5.7 million per year in idle and wait times. Tiger VII Discretionary Grant Application of $11,999,950, total

project amount = $14,999,939. Project title: North Portland and Peninsula Junctions: Passenger and Freight Rail

Improvements.th

Sound Transit on August 4 executed the sale of nearly $1 billion of green bonds that will help fund voter-approved

regional transit projects. The bond issuance is fully compliant with International Capital Market Association Green Bond

Principles. Sound Transit news release 8/5/2015.st

The Oregon Transportation Commission adopted new rules August 21 requiring railroads to increase

the amount of information they share with state officials. Emergency responders will now get immediate

notification from railroads for incidents involving hazardous materials. Those notifications include

information about the type, quantity and placement of any materials on the train. Railroads now must file

quarterly reports with the Oregon Department of Transportation detailing shipments of hazardous

materials. ODOT will in turn share those reports with emergency responders. Earlier this year, the

Oregon Legislature passed a bill that increased fees for the state's oil spill prevention program and devoted money for the

State Fire Marshall to acquire equipment and coordinate response plans for oil train incidents. OPB/EarthFix 8/21/2015.

Anybody else bothered by those Sleep Train commercials that feature a neat steam locomotive model with a diesel

electric horn in the background? I know, picky, picky.

The Sherwood line segment was first operated in January 1887. It was

built as a narrow gauge railroad from Dundee Junction (near Dundee) via Rex

Hill to Jefferson Street by the Portland & Willamette Valley Railroad Co.,

which existed from January of 1885 until August 5, 1892, when its properties

were transferred to the Portland & Yamhill Railroad. Southern Pacific had

incorporated the P&Y in June of 1892 for the specific purpose of integrating

the narrow gauge line into its standard gauge system. By the end of 1893 all

narrow gauge track had been converted to standard gauge although Dundee to

Portland existed as a dual gauge operation (three rails) until 1895.

In the early 1900s, electrified interurban railways were blossoming across

the nation. The Oregon Electric Railway began service between Portland and

Salem in 1908 and, in 1912, extended its line to Eugene. Not to be outdone,

SP electrified its branches between Whiteson and Portland 1912 to 1914 and

began regular “Red Electric” service with electrified interurban trains to

Whiteson via Sherwood/Newberg and Hillsboro/Forest Grove. In the spring of 1916, the electrification was extended south from

Whiteson to Corvallis. During the 1920s patronage gradually declined and SP discontinued the Red Electrics in the fall of 1929.

About a year before the demise of the electric interurbans, in 1928, SP constructed a 596-foot-long open-deck timber trestle across

Rock Creek between Sherwood and Cipole on the Newberg Branch, replacing a previously existing structure. Although various

components of the 1928 bridge had been renewed over the intervening years,

this 87-year-old trestle succumbed to fire on August 10, 2015.

On August 18, 1995, the Newberg-Cook line and other adjoining branch

trackage were leased to the newly-formed Portland & Western Railroad. (The

west end of the Newberg Branch, from Newberg to St. Joseph, had been

leased by Willamette & Pacific Railroad effective February 28, 1993.) For

the past several years P&W has not operated regular service over the trackage

between Sherwood and Newberg (Rex Hill), instead serving the

Newberg/McMinnville area through Albany and Independence, while

providing service to the chemical company just east of Sherwood from

Tigard. Since the Newberg line is not carrying any through or “overhead”

traffic, the loss of the Rock Creek trestle will not materially affect the

railroad's current operating plan.

FIRE DESTROYS ROCK CREEK TRESTLEBy Robert I. Melbo

Trestle engulfed in fire, Photo provided by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue

SP 4449 headed to the 2006 Sherwood Cruisin, Photo provided by PNWC member Jim Fitzgerald

Held on August 21, 2015

August Membership Meeting MinutesPacific Northwest Chapter - National Railway Historical Society

The August 2015 membership meeting was called to order at 7:31pm by President Keith Fleschner. There were no guests present to recognize.

The minutes of the July meeting were called and Arlen Sheldrake made a motion to approve the minutes and Al Baker seconded. The membership voted to approve the minutes.

George Hickok gave the monthly treasurers report and said all accounts balance. He reported that the 2014 income tax return has been filed.

President Fleschner announced that long time member Roger White has passed away. He also reported that Rick McDorman has had a stroke and is recovering well. There were cards to be signed on the front table for the families.

Arlen Sheldrake announced that this week is the National Model Railroad Convention. Also September 12 is the opening of the new light rail line that runs in front of the Oregon Rail Heritage Center and a busy day is expected.

Ron McCoy made the monthly presentation of the Unsung Hero Award to President Keith Fleschner and invited all members to sign the certificate.

Al Baker announced that the September program will be the update on the SP&S 700. The October program will be given by Arlen Sheldrake on the museum in Hermiston, and

the November program will be given by Keith Fleschner on the progress of the Chapter’s Alco S2 restoration.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:56pm.Snack time was provided by Jean Hickok. Thanks again Jean.

The program for the evening was the second half of the video of the eastbound Montana Rail excursion pulled by the SP&S 700, given by Mark Reynolds and Ken Vannice.

Photos by Jim Hokinson and T. Trent Stetz

Respectfully submitted

by Jim Hokinson, Secretary.


Ron McCoy presents the Unsung Hero Award

President Keith Fleschner presides over the Meeting

Mark Reynolds and Ken Vannice narrate the video

Jean Hickok provided the snacks

Chapter OfficersPresident Keith Fleschner 503.516.9272

503.638.7411Vice President Mark Reynolds

503.638.7411

Treasurer George Hickok 503.649.5762Secretary Jim Hokinson 503.635.4826National Rep. Al Baker 503.645.9079

Chapter Directors-at-LargePhil Barney 2013-2015

Ken Vannice 2013-2015 503.244.8732503.706.0498

Bryan Ackler 2015-2017 503.246.2165David Cautley 2015-2017 503.631.7516Jean Hickok 2014-2016 503.649.5762Trent Stetz 2014-2016 503.643.1494

Committee ChairsActivities Ron McCoy 503.310.4811 Archives William Hyde 503.666.5530Auditor Bob McCoy 360.459.3251Car Host Mark ReynoldsConcessions VacantChapter Rep., Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation

Keith Fleschner 503.516.9272

Chapter Home George Hickok 503.649.5762

Elections Jim Loomis 503.253.3926

Excursions Vacant

Flanger Restoration Phil Barney 503.706.0498

Library Ken Vannice

Meeting Programs Al Baker 503.645.9079

Membership Diana Mack 503.723.3345

Rolling Stock George Hickok 503.649.5762Keith Fleschner 503.516.9272

Chief Mech. Officer Peter Rodabaugh 503.701.7040Car Rental Agt. Bob Jackson 503.231.4808Safety Officer Keith Fleschner 503.516.9272

S-2 Restoration Mark Reynolds 503.638.7411

Webmasters Jim Long 503.313.7382Mark Whitson 503.533.7005

The Trainmaster is the official newsletter of the Pacific North-west Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. It is published monthly for the benefit of its members. Articles which appear in T he Trainmaster do not express the official position of the organization on any subject unless specifically noted as such. Material from The Trainmaster may be reprinted in other publications provided credit is given as to the source, except in cases where the article originated in a third party publication and special permission was given to The Trainmas-ter to print the article here. Please address contributions and correspondence to:

Attn: The Trainmaster EditorthPNWC-NRHS, Union Station, 800 NW 6 Ave Rm 1

Portland OR 97209-3794Voice: 503.226.6747 Fax: 503.230.0572Chapter email: [email protected] Trainmaster email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.pnwc-nrhs.orgISSN: 0041-0926Editor Trent Stetz 503.643.1494Circulation George Hickok 503.649.5762Mailing/Distribution Jean Hickok 503.649.5762

George Hickok 503.649.5762TM Liaison/Reporter Arlen Sheldrake 503.351.9881

Bill of LadingOR&N 197 at ORHC...........................................Page 1

OR&N 197 Looking Good.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....Page 2

Antique Powerland Brussels Trams..........................Page 4

Antique Powerland Steam Up................................Page 4

Motive Power on the Pass...................................Page 3

Chapter Meeting Minutes. ......................................................Page 10

In Remembrance of Roger White..........................................

PNW Shortlines.........................................................Page 5

Fire Destroys Rock Creek Trestle............................Page 9

Update from the PNWC Library.............................Page 2

Officers, Committees & Contacts...........................................Page 11

Mission Statement....................................................................Page 12

Calendar ...................................................................................Page 12

Page 11

Printed in the USA

503.244.8732


IN REMEMBRANCE

ROGER WHITE

Roger A. White passed away on August 10, 2015, at the age of 81. He grew up in Roseburg and graduated from Roseburg High School in 1952. He joined PNWC in 1983 and continued his membership for more than 25 years. He drove bus for Greyhound and retired after 27 years. He had a great love for antique cars and trains, and proudly drove one of his antique cars in many parades. He was also a member of Northwest Vintage Car & Motorcycle Museum at Antique Powerland. He will be missed.

o. PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHAPTER TIMETABLE N 638

(Open to all Chapter Members. Note address for Board meetings; Follow instructions posted on the door for entry.)

Membership Meetings: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5415 SE Powell Blvd. 7:30 pm(Guests Most Welcome!)

Forward program ideas to Al Baker, 503.645.9079 or [email protected]

NOTABLE NON-CHAPTER EVENTS:

October 8, Thursday, 9320 SW Barbur Blvd, Suite 200, 7:30pmSeptember 10, Thursday, 9320 SW Barbur Blvd, Suite 200, 7:30pmBoard of Director’s Meetings:

September 18: Update on the SP&S 700 by Steve Sedaker, Vice President, Pacific Railroad Preservation Association.

thOctober 16: Maxwell Siding Railroad Museum, a July 18 visit by Arlen L. Sheldrake. A pictorial view

and update about this very unique and not well known asset residing/hiding in Hermiston, Oregon.

November 20: Portland Terminal Alco S2 No. 36: Cosmetic Restoration Update, Keith Fleschner

Jan. – Nov. Portland Train Rides, every Sat., Oregon Rail Heritage Center, www.portlandtrainrides.comMay 1 – October 15 Northern Pacific Railway Museum open, Toppenish WA, www.nprymuseum.org

Sept. 5-6 An Affair on Main Street, Pend Oreille Valley RR Metaline Falls WA, www.lionstrainrides.com

Sept. 5-6-7 Pacific Northwest Live Steamers Founders Birthday, Molalla Train Park, www.pnls.org

Sept. 5-6-7 Labor Day Weekend Trains, Santiam Excursion Train, Lebanon OR, www.santiamexcursionstrains.com

Sept. 12 Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail MAX Orange Line Grand Opening, with OMSI/ORHC station, www.trimet.org

Sept. 19 3rd Annual Northwest Railroad Heritage Forum, Tacoma WA, www.railheritage.org

Oct. 3-4 First Autumn Colors, Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, Ione WA, www.lionstrainrides.comOct. 7-11 SP Historical & Technical Society 2015 Convention, Sacramento CA, www.sphts.orgOct. 10-11 Second Autumn Colors, Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, Ione WA, www.lionstrainrides.comOct. 17-18 Third Autumn Colors, Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, Ione WA, www.lionstrainrides.comOct. 17-18 Autumn Splendor Train. Lebanon, OR www.santiamexcursionstrains.comOct. 24-25 Great Pumpkin Rides, Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, Ione WA, www.lionstrainrides.comOct. 24 Autumn Splendor Train. Lebanon, OR www.santiamexcursionstrains.comOct. 24 Mystery Dinner Train. Lebanon, OR www.santiamexcursionstrains.comOct. 31 Halloween Costume Train. Lebanon, OR www.santiamexcursionstrains.comOct. 31 Adults Only Halloween Costume Party. Lebanon, OR www.santiamexcursionstrains.comNov. 27-28 Winter Discovery Train. Lebanon, OR www.santiamexcursionstrains.comDec. 5, 6, 12 & 13 Candy Cane Express, Oregon Coast Scenic RR, Garibaldi OR, oregoncoastscenic.org

óóóóóóóóóó Happy New Year 2016! óóóóóóóóóóMar. 12 WINTERAIL 2016, Corvallis, Oregon, winterail.com

July 19-24 NRHS 2016 Convention, Denver, Colorado, www.nrhs.com

Sept. 15-18 40th Anniversary American Freedom Train Staff Reunion, Portland OR, www.freedomtrain.org

PNWC – NRHS MISSION To preserve and interpret Pacific Northwest railroad history and historical

artifacts for the education and enjoyment of current and future generations.


MAX Orange Line Grand Opening Celebration September 12, 2015, 11 am–6 pmAt the Oregon Rail Heritage Center: Open 9 am–6 pm Check out the new MAX exhibit, “TriMet’s MAX Light Rail: Connecting Our Region,” as well as a steam engine and other passenger cars. At 11:30 am hear the Beaumont Jazz Ambassadors from Beaumont Junior High school. At 3 pm hear

Dick Saunders' 11-piece band. catchtheorange.com/#/opening/omsi-water

trainmaster 2015 09 september issue

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